Gate-controlling device for cookers.



' C. H. FULSON.

GATE CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR GOOKERS.

APPLICATION IILBD APR. 13. 1914.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

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G. H. PULSON. GATE CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR GOOKERS.

APPLICATION FILED APE..13, 1914.

1, 1 1 5,1 86. Patented 0011.27, 1914.

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TH." NORRIS PETERS c0. FHGTOVLITH WASHING TON. D 2v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GHARLESI-I. FULSON, OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO BUCKEYE IRON AND BRASS WORKS, 015 DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OI-IIO.

GATE-CONTROLiIING DEVICE FOR COOKERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 191.4.

Application filed April 13, 1914. Serial No. 831,447.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. FULsoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grate-Controlling Devices for Cookers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to gate-controlling devices for cookers of the character commonly employed in treating seeds and the like preparatory to pressing the oil therefrom... Cookers of this character as commonly constructed embody a series of receptacles arranged one above the other and each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading into the receptacle next below it. Each discharge opening is controlled by a gate which is normally closed. The seeds are placed first in the upper receptacle and then transferred successively to the succeeding lower receptacles, the aggregate of the time that the seeds remain in the several receptacles being the time necessary to properly cook the same.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for mechanically controlling the opening and closing of the gates for the several receptacles, thereby enabling the opening of these gates to be accurately timed and the cooking of the seeds more accurately controlled.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a mechanism which will be very simple and inexpensive in its construction and which will accurately time the movements of the gates.

It is a further object to provide such a device which may be applicable to existing cgokers without material modification there- 0 To this end, it is a further object of the invention to mount exteriorly of the cooker a controlling device provided with means for causing the gates to be opened and closed and havingvertical movement to cause these means to be brought into operative relation successively with the several gates; and it is also an object of the invention to provide means controlled by the movement of the controlling device for interrupting the application of power to said controlling device.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cooker embodying my invention, showing the controlling device in its starting position with all the gates closed; Fig. 2 IS a similar view, partially broken away, showing the controlling device 1 to the receptacles 2, 8 and 4L. The receptacle 4 is also provided with a discharge opening through which the meal is withdrawn to a cake former or the like, but as this does not enter into the present invention it is not here shown. Each of the discharge openings 5 is controlled by a gate '6 which, in the present form of the invention, is secured to a shaft 7 journaled at one side of the dis charge opening and having its end projecting beyond the side of the receptacle where it is provided with means for actuating the gate. In the present instance this means comprises a rock arm 8 mounted'on the shaft and adapted to be engaged by the controlling device, as hereinafter described. Each of the gates is maintained normally in its closed position by means of counterweights 9 which are secured to the respective shafts 7. It will be understood, however, that this particular type of gate is chosen for the purpose of illustration only and that other forms of gates and actuating devices may be employed so long as they are of such a character that the opening and closing of, each gate may be controlled by the controlling device.

The controlling device consists of a member movably mounted alongside of the cooker and having means for engaging the actuating members or rock arms of the respective gates to cause these gates to be opened and closed one after the other in a pre-arranged order. This controlling member may be of any suitable character and power may be applied thereto in any suitable manner. In the present instance I have shown a device designed to utilize hydraulic power, which is always available in oil mills. In this construction the controlling member proper cent face of the tripping block.

comprises a rod 10 arranged for vertical movement along one side of the cooker and adjacent to the ends of the shafts '7 which ated. The cylinder 12 is connected by means of a pipe 18 with a suitable source of supply for fluid under pressure, such, for example,

as apump which may be of any desired characterand is not here shown. The flow of the fluid under pressure through the pipe 13 is controlled by a valve lat which is adapted to connect the cylinder with the source of supply or with the relief port. The valve stem has connected thereto two actuating arms 15 and 16, one of which also carries a counterweight 17 designed to be moved across its center of gravity when the valve is moved from one position to another and tending to hold the valve in its adjusted position. The arm 16 also has secured thereto an actuating rod 18 by --means of whichthe valve may be actuated by hand. The arm 15 is adapted for automatically actuating the valve through the medium of certain devices which will be hereinafter described. The red 10 is provided with means for successively engaging the actuating arms 8 of the several gates and moving the gates to their open positions, holding the gates in their open positions for a predetermined period of time and then releasing the gates and allowing them to close under the action of the counterweights 9. 1t will be understood that each gate is closed before the following gate is opened so that the seed from an upper receptaclecannot pass directly through the next lower receptacle to a third receptacle lying beneath the intermediate receptacle. This action may be secured in different ways but in the present instance the means for tripping the actuating arms for the gates is divided into three parts, each part being designed to engage and operate one only of the rock arms 8. These three parts are in the form of tripping projections or blocks carried by the rod 10 of the controlling member and indicated by the reference numerals 19, 20 and 21. Each tripping block is so arranged that it will engage the end of the corresponding rock arm '8, move the same about its center to open the gate andhold the gate-in its open position until the block has passed the'end of the rock arm. 1n order that the controlling device may return to its normal position with the gates in their closed positions 1 have formed each rock arm of such a length relative to the width of its corresponding projection or tripping block that when the door is closed, the end of the arm will just clear the adj a- To cause i vice.

the blocks to engage the arms on their upward movement each block is provided with a sarin -oressed do 22 the nose'of which 1 a 1 a: a

projects normally slightly beyond the opera tive face of the trip block. Consequently, upon the upward movement of the block the dog will engage the end of the corresponding trip arm and move the same about its axis, thereby -'carrying the end of the arm into the path of the block itself which then engages the end of the arm, moves the same to the limit .of its movement to open the door and retains the same in this position aintil the block has completely passed the end of the'arm. Upon the downward movement of the block the dog will yield to permit it to pass the arm. As stated, the present embodiment of the mechanism comprises three trip blocks, one for each gate, and the arrangement of these blocks onthe rod 10 is such that the upper block 19 and the lower block 21 must both clear without operating the rock arm of the gate of the receptacle 2. To this end the rock .arm 8 of this receptacle is made a trifle shorter than the other arms and the operative face of the tripping block for this arm is projected a little farther from the rodlO so that this block will engage and operate the rock arm for this receptacle, while the other blocks will clear the same.

lVith the controlling device in the position shown in Fig. 1 it will be'apparent that when the fluid is admitted beneath the piston 11 the rod 10 will be lifted upward and almost immediately the lower block 21 will engage and actuate the rock arm for the gate of the receptacle 3, thus opening this gate and permitting the seeds in this receptacle to discharge into the lower receptacle 4, which has been emptied prior to the admission tothe cylinder. The length of the block 21 is sufficient to hold the gate open long enough to permit of the receptaclebeing completely emptied but the time may be varied by varying the speed at which the piston 11 moves. Immediately after the 'lower block 21 has cleared the rock arm of the gate for the receptacle 3 the block 20 will engage and actuate the arm of the gate for the receptacle 2 and immediately after the clock 20 has cleared this arm the block 19 will engage the rock arm for the gate of the upper receptacle 1.

The parts are shown in this position in Fig. 2 with the igate of the upper receptacle open and the block 19 just about to release the 1 4 of said gate.

rock arm It is desirable. that means should be provided to automatically check the movement of the controlling device immediately upon the closing of the gate of the uppermost 1 receptacle and it is preferable that this should be accomplished by interrupting the application of power to said controlling de- The manner in which the power is interrupted will depend to a great extent upon the character of the power employed. In the present instance,.the simplest way is to reverse the, valve 14. To this end I have provided a valve actuating rod 23 which is provided at ats lower end with a slot 24 through which extends a pin 25 carried by the valve actuating arm 15, thus providing a loose connection between the valve-actuating rod and the valve. The rod 23 extends upwardly through a guide bracket 26 secured to the rod 10 and is provided at its upper end with a head 27 to engage the bracket 26 and cause the rod to move with the rod 10 of the controlling device. The position of the bracket 26 on the rod 10 and the length of the slot 2-l are such that the upward movement of the rod 10 will shift the valve immediately after the gate of the uppermost receptacle is closed. The piston 11 will then descend by reason of the weight it carries and the parts will again assume the position shown in Fig. 1. When the lower receptacle 4 has been again emptied and the fresh charge has been placed in the uppermost receptacle 1, the valve is manipulated by means of the hand rod 18 to again apply power to the controlling device, causing the action just described to be repeated.

The operation of the device will bereadily understood from. the foregoing description and it will be apparent that the device is exceedingly simple in its construction and is of such a character that its operation is positive and certain. Further, it is of such a character that the opening and closing of the gates may be exactly timed in relation one to the other and that the length of time the gates remain open may be controlled by regulating the speed at which the device moves.

(While I have shown and described one embodiment of the invention it will be understood that this has been chosen for the purpose of illustration, only and that I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction shown and described, for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a cooker, the combination, with a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, and gates to control the respective discharge openings, of a controlling device mounted adjacent to said receptacles, capable of vertical movement and having means to cause said gates to be successively opened to be retained in their fully open positions for periods of time, and means to close said gates.

2. In a cooker, the combination, with a senormally in their closed positions, and an actuating member connected with each of said gates, of a vertically movable controlling device mounted adjacent to said receptacles and having means to successively en'- gage the actuating members of the'several gates to cause said gates to be opened in a pre-arranged order and to be retained in their fully open positions for periods of time.

3. In a cooker, the combination, with a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, gates to control the respective discharge openings, and an actuating member connected with each of said gates, of a vertically movable controlling device mounted adjacent to said receptacles and having means to successively engage the actuating members of the several gates tocause said gates to be opened in a pre-arranged order, said means being constructed and arranged to quickly open said gates and to remain in engagement with said actuating members during the continued movement of said controlling device to retain eachgate in its open position for a period of time.

.4. In a cooker, the combination, with a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, and gates to control the respective discharge openings, of a vertically movable controlling device mounted adjacent to said receptacles and having means to cause said gates to be successively opened and closed, power-operated mechanism for actuating said controlling device, and means controlled by the vertical movement of said controlling device for interrupting the application of power to said power operated mechanism.

5. In a cooker, the combination, with a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, and gates to control the respecti ve discharge openings, of a vertically movable controlling device mounted adjacent to said receptacles and having means to cause said gates to be successively opened and closed, a fluid cylinder, a piston mounted in said cylinder and connected with said controlling device, a valve to control the admission of fluid to said cylinder, and means controlled by the movement of said actuating device to actuate said valve.

6. In a cooker, the combination, with a series of receptacles arranged one above the iii) to actuate said valve either automatically or manually.

7. 1n a coolrer, *th'e -'c'onrbmat1on, with :a

plurality of receptacles arranged one above the other, the upper receptacle-having a discharge opening-leading to the lower receptacle, a gateto-nontrol said discharge opn- 'ing, and an actuating-device for said .gate, of ii-controlling device comprising a movable mehibenand a tr-ipp i-ng block carried 'bysaid movable member and arranged to-engage saidactu-atingidevice to open said gate.

"8. In a cooker, the combination, with *a plurality oi receptacles arranged one-above the other, the upper receptacle having a dischargeopening' leading to the lower receptacle, agate to control said-discharge"opening, and an actuating member 'for said gate, of a -controlling device-'comprising-a movaible member, and a*tripping"block carried by said vertically movable member and arranged to engage said actuatingd'evice to open said gateysaid tripping block having an elongatedpor-tion adapted "to remain "in engagement with said actuating device to retain said gate in its open position.

9. In a cooker, "the combination, with a plurality of receptacles arranged one above the other, the upper receptacle having a dis charge opening leading .to the lower receptacle, a hinged gate to control said discharge opening, and a rock arm connected with said gateto impart movement thereto, of a controlling device comprising a movable member, and atripping block secured to said member arrangedto engage SflldIQC'k arm,

move the same about its axis and having-an elongated bearing surface arranged'to remain in engagementwith saidrock arm for a period of time.

10. In a cooker, the'combina'tion, with a plurality of receptacles arranged one. above the other, the upper receptacle having-a discharge opening leading to the lower receptacle, ahinged gate to control said discharge opening, and a rock arm connected with said gate to impart movement thereto, and arranged atan inclination to a vertical line, of a controlling device comprisinga vertically movable member, a tripping block carried by said member and having a bearing surface arranged to clear the end of said rock arm when the latter is in its normal position, adog carried by said tripping block, projecting beyonclthe bearing surf-ace of saidblock and arranged to engage the end of said "rock arm when the latter is its normal position and move it about its axis to bring the end thereof into the-path'of sa'id blooln v '11. in a cooker, the combination, with a plurality of receptacles arranged'one-above the other, the upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the lower receptacle, a gate to control said discharge opening, and an actuating member connected With-saidgate, of a controlling device comprising a movable member, and a tripping bl'oek secured .to said member and arranged to engage said actuating member, power operated mechanism connected w-ith said controlling'devide,'andmea11s actuated by said controlling member to interrupt the application of power to said vpower-operated mechanism.

-1-2. In awcooker, the combination, with a plurality of receptacles arranged one above the other, the upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the lower re ceptacle, a gate to control said discharge opening, and an actuating member connec'ted with said gate, of a .controlling device comprising a movable member and a tripping block-carried thereby and arranged to engage --the actuating member of said gate, aifl'uid operated device'for actuating said movable member, a valve to control the admission of fluid'to saiddev'ice, and means actuated by the movement of said movable member to actuate said valve.

' "13. In a cooker, the combination, with a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptaclehaving a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, gates to control the respective discharge openings, and actuating devices connected with respective gates, of a rod mounted alongside of said cooker, means for imparting movement tosaid rod, and a plurality of tripping blocks carried by said rod, each of saidblocks being arranged to engage the actuating device of one of saidgates, and said blocks being so arranged relatively one to the other that any one of said blocks can engage the actuating member of its gate only whenthe other blocks are out of engagement with the actuating members of their respective gates.

14. In a cookerythe combination, with a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a dis charge opening 'lea'ding to the next lowerreceptacle, gates to control the respective discharge openings, means for holding said gates normally in their closed positions, and rock arms connected with the respective gates to move the same into their open positions,-of a rod arranged alongside of said cooker, means 'for imparting longitudinal movement to said rod, and a series of tripping blocks carried by said rod and adapted to be moved into operative engagement with said rock arms by the longitudinal movement of said rod.

15. In a cooker, the combination, With a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, gates to control the respective discharge openings, means for holding said gates normally in their closed positions, and rock arms connected With the respective gates to move the same into their open positions, of a rod arranged alongside of said cooker, a fluid actuated device for imparting movement to said rod, a valve to control said device, a series of tripping blocks mounted on said rod and adapted to engage and actuate the respective rock arms, a valve actuating rod connected With said valve, and means carried by said movable rod for imparting movement to said valve actuating rod.

16. In a cooker, the combination With a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper-receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, and gates to control the respective discharge openings, of means to suecessively open said gates and to retain the same in their fully open positions for predetermined periods of time, said means comprising a vertically movable device to cause the gates to assume their open positions, and means to close said gates.

17. In a cooker, the combination With a series or receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, and gates to control the respective discharge openings, of means to successively open said gates and to retain the same in their fully open positions for pre-determined periods of time, said means comprising a plurality of members movable in unison and arranged tosuccessively open the several gates.

18.In a cooker, the combination With a series of receptacles arranged one above the other, each upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the next lower receptacle, and gates to control the respective discharge openings, of means to successively open said gates and to retain the same in their fully open positions for pre-determined periods of time, said means comprising a power-driven device to cause said gates to successively assume their open positions, and means to close said gates.

19. In a cooker, the combination with a plurality of receptacles arranged one above the other, the upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the loWer receptacle, a gate to control said discharge opening and an actuating device for said gate,or" controlling means to cause said gate to be opened and retained in its open position for a period of time, said means including a tripping device to engage said actuating device and open said gate.

20. In a cooker, the combination with a plurality of receptacles arranged one above the other, the upper receptacle having a discharge opening leading to the loWer receptacle and a gate to control said discharge opening, of controlling means to cause said gate to be opened and retained 1n its open position for a period of time, sald means including a tripping device to cause said gate to be opened.

In testimony whereof I a'lfix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

C. H. FULSON.

wax Witnesses:

GEORGE J ONES, HAROLD HURST.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

